Written Answers Thursday 24 January 2008

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-101 by Richard Lochhead on 7 June 2007, what progress has been made on the review of the EU agricultural subsidies appeals procedure; what the membership is of the group undertaking the review; what bodies or individuals have been consulted by those undertaking the review; whether the remit of the review includes consideration of the scale of the penalties applied, and when the outcome of the review is expected to be announced.

Richard Lochhead: I have now set up an independent panel to review the current EU agricultural subsidies appeals process. It held its first meeting at the end of November 2007.

  The panel is chaired by John Kinnaird, a past President of NFU Scotland. The other members are Sheriff Roddy MacLeod from the Scottish Land Court, Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of the Moredun Foundation and Mrs Isobel McCallum, vice president of the Black Isle Farmers Society.

  The review will be wide ranging and cover all aspects of the current process including the legislative framework (which sets out the level of penalties) within which panels have to operate.

  As part of its consideration the panel has also invited the industry to provide its views and opinions on the current procedure.

  I expect to receive the findings in May.

Alcohol Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in alcohol demand it anticipates would arise from a (a) 5%, (b) 10% and (c) 20% increase in price.

Shona Robison: International studies have shown a correlation between price and consumption, although it is clear that the relationship is complex, and variable in different countries and across different products. From the available evidence it is not possible to accurately predict the effect of price increases on consumption levels in Scotland.

Antisocial Behaviour

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in addressing antisocial behaviour.

Fergus Ewing: Much progress has been made by local partnerships to address antisocial behaviour since the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act was introduced in 2004. We are currently reviewing the national strategy to see where it can be strengthened, and will report our findings to Parliament by the end of 2008. I am always happy to receive representations from members on these issues.

Children and Young People

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans exist to educate children on how to use the internet safely.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government wants children and young people to make full use of the internet and is committed to ensuring that they are able to do so in a safe and responsible manner.

  We continue to work with a number of agencies to raise children and young people’s awareness about how to "surf safely". Learning and Teaching Scotland provides advice on school policies for internet use and access and links to a number of websites that provide advice on internet safety. Respectme the national bullying service recently published advice on the use of the internet to prevent cyber bullying. Chatsafer, a Scottish Government information website, is a parental guide to safer chatting on the web. "Safe and Well" guidance, which issued to schools in 2005, includes good practice guidance on computer safety.

  As part of our on-going commitment to protect children, the draft outcomes and experiences for technology, which will be published later this year as part of the work on the curriculum review, are likely to include opportunities for teachers to develop young people’s knowledge of safe and responsible use of the internet.

Climate Change

Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in view of the fact that sea levels are rising and that the rise might exceed five metres by 2095, whether it plans to prepare contingency maps of areas that may have to be lost to the sea.

Michael Russell: The most recent assessment of sea level rise by the UK Climate Impacts Partnership was made in 2002 and suggests a rise by up to 600mm by 2080. This assessment will be updated in October 2008 in the light of which we will consider further the need to prepare contingency maps of areas that may be permanently lost to the sea through erosion as a result of rising sea levels. However, SEPA have published maps showing land that is currently at medium to high risk of coastal flooding.

Crofting

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is to improve the accuracy of the determination of croft boundaries and when it last discussed this with the Crofters Commission.

Michael Russell: As with all privately owned land, the responsibility for accurate boundary information rests with the owner and occupier of that land. Determination of boundary disputes is a matter for the courts rather than the Crofters Commission. The Register of Crofts held by the Crofters Commission will record such boundary information as is supplied to it. No formal discussions on improving the accuracy of croft boundaries have been held with the Crofters Commission. The commission already assists landowners and crofters in identifying boundaries.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to identify and address the risk of suicide in the treatment programmes for people with drug and alcohol addiction.

Shona Robison: Commitment 7 in Delivering for Mental Health states that "Key frontline mental health services, primary care and accident and emergency staff will be educated and trained in using suicide assessment tools/suicide prevention training programmes. 50% of target staff will be trained by 2010." NHS staff who work in substance misuse will be considered as part of frontline staff.

  Also two recent reports- Mental Health in Scotland: Closing the Gaps- Making a Difference and National Forum On Drug Related Deaths- Annual Report 2007 -highlighted the increasing linkage between suicide prevention and substance misuse. Alcohol and Drug Action Teams and suicide prevention groups are in the process of agreeing joint working arrangements to ensure that local actions reflect the close linkages between their work.

  Work by Choose Life at a national level has included mainstreaming and integration of suicide prevention into substance misuse treatment services.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which residential establishments treat (a) bipolar disorder and (b) depression as part of drug and alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. However, all NHS in-patient mental health services provide treatment for bipolar disorder and depression along with drug and alcohol detoxification. This treatment may be provided as part of an acute general adult inpatient service, or specialist alcohol, and drugs unit dependent on the area.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated to the Alternatives to Exclusion programme in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.

Maureen Watt: Whilst local government had flexibility to allocate other resources to this area, the specific amount allocated to local government for Alternatives to Exclusion programme in 2007-08 was £11 million.

  For future years, this funding will be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It will be the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their community planning partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their local needs and priorities – having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the agreed set of national outcomes, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and the full terms of the concordat. Further details on these new arrangements can be found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordat with local authorities. Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 44076 and 44077 respectively).

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount is being allocated for improving discipline in schools in each year from 2007 to 2011 and what percentage of the budget for children and young people this represents.

Maureen Watt: Whilst local government had flexibility to allocate other resources to this area, the specific amount allocated to local government for improving discipline and school ethos in 2007-08 was £29.5 million.

  In addition 2007-08 was included as part of an allocation of £35 million spread over three years (2005-06; 2006-07, and 2007-08), to fund additional support staff to free teachers to teach, help pupils to learn undisturbed, and help deal intensively with those pupils who need it most.

  For future years, this funding will be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It will be the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their community planning partners, to allocate the funding on the basis of their local needs and priorities – having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the agreed set of national outcomes, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and the full terms of the concordat. Further details on these new arrangements can be found in the Scottish Budget Report and related concordat with local authorities. Copies of both documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 44076 and 44077 respectively).

Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the inquiry being led by Mr Eddie Frizzell into what went wrong at Kerelaw school.

Fiona Hyslop: Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government will share equally the costs of the Kerelaw Independent Inquiry. The detailed cost calculations are not yet completed.

Education

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a case for paying lay members of school inspection teams for any loss of earnings and costs incurred in conducting their responsibilities.

Fiona Hyslop: Lay members of school inspection teams provide an invaluable perspective on the quality of education in Scotland. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) meet all their related travel and subsistence costs. However, I am concerned that the integrity and independence of lay members could be called into question if any other costs were to be paid for by HMIE.

Environment

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in de-cluttering the environmental landscape.

Michael Russell: The First Minister will make a statement to Parliament later this month on the simplification of public services. Meanwhile, work continues on the development of an integrated delivery service for the shared land management customers of nine environmental and rural public bodies.

Environment

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to ensure the safe disposal of energy saving light bulbs, given the official advice from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on smashed low-energy bulbs.

Richard Lochhead: We would strongly encourage households and other users of energy-saving light bulbs to use the arrangements put in place for recycling and recovery of waste electrical and electronic equipment. These require producers and distributors to arrange for the take-back of relevant types of waste for recycling either through recycling centres or retail outlets.

  In practice, the more robust construction of low-energy light bulbs means they are less likely to break than traditional bulbs.

Environment

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with other EU regional legislatures on matters related to the environment.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is engaging with national governments to place Scotland as a nation rather than a region, but we will continue to cooperate with EU regions in areas where there is sufficient interest, goodwill and mutual benefit. Ministers are currently considering the Scottish Government’s engagement with our European partners and this will form part of the European Strategy that is being drawn up at the moment.

  I have accepted an invitation to speak at the 2008 ENCORE (Environmental Conference of the Regions of Europe) event later this year. Most recently, Scottish ministers were represented at a side event to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali in December 2007. The event was organised by The Climate Group, for politicians and officials from states and regions, including representatives from EU regional legislatures, to discuss climate change policy solutions.

Environment

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nature designations, including Special Protection Areas, have been approved by Scottish ministers since May 2007.

Michael Russell: Scottish ministers have designated two such sites since May 2007. These are the Renfrewshire Heights and Oronsay and South Colonsay Special Protection Areas.

Environment

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local nature reserves have been approved by Scottish ministers since May 2007.

Michael Russell: This is a matter entirely within the responsibility of local authorities.

Fire Service

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Fire Brigades Union on pension entitlement for its members.

Fergus Ewing: My officials and I have had a number of meetings with the Fire Brigades Union to discuss a range of subjects. These discussions have included pensions issues.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the mortality levels in cod stocks will be expected to drop in 2008.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government, in consultation with the fishing industry and environmental NGOs, is taking a number of steps to ensure sustainable cod fisheries, in particular under the new Conservation Credits scheme. A key factor in designing and implementing such steps will be the expected impact on cod mortality. However, given the innovative nature of several of these measures and the fact that the Scottish fleet is responsible for only a part of overall cod mortality, it is not possible to give firm estimates of what overall cod mortality is expected to be in 2008.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of derogation awards to fishers in relation to their days-at-sea allocations it anticipates will occur in 2008, broken down by (a) fishing gear type, (b) derogation type and (c) and International Council for the Exploration of the Seas sub area.

Richard Lochhead: It is not possible to anticipate exact numbers of vessels which would be eligible to benefit from EU days at sea derogations during 2008, but we can assume levels would be similar to those during 2007. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7738 on 11 January 2008 in which I provided the total number of Scottish-registered vessels benefiting from additional days for derogations for 2006 and 2007.

  This year, however, Scotland will for the first time be operating its own arrangements, with additional days at sea awarded domestically through Conservation Credits, a scheme which will reward fishermen for taking part in initiatives with real conservation benefits. The details of the Conservation Credits scheme, including the level of credits to be made available, are still in the process of being decided, with the full involvement of the industry, scientists and environmental NGOs.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific derogations in relation to days at sea allocations will be introduced under its conservation credit scheme for fisheries management, broken down by (a) fishing gear type, (b) derogation type and (c) ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) sub area.

Richard Lochhead: The conservation credit scheme does not contain any specific derogations. The details of the first stage of the Scheme including the level of credit available in which ICES area and in respect of which activities will be finalised by 1 February 2008.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how its conservation credit scheme for fisheries management will be monitored for discard levels during 2008.

Richard Lochhead: A Conservation Credit Scheme Steering Group has been established to oversee the implementation and operation of the scheme over the course of 2008. Membership of the steering group includes Fisheries Research Services’ scientists who will report regularly on discard levels.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date its conservation credit scheme for fisheries management will become operational.

Richard Lochhead: The first stage of the scheme will become operational on 1 February 2008 with an enhanced scheme following later in the spring.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what stakeholder consultation will be conducted before the introduction of its conservation credit scheme for fisheries management.

Richard Lochhead: A Conservation Credit Scheme Steering Group has been established to oversee the design, implementation and operation of the scheme. That group is made up of representatives of environmental NGOs, Fisheries Research Services Marine Lab and the Scottish fishing industry. Its first meeting took place on Friday 11 January 2008 and further monthly meetings are planned in the coming months.

  The ideas underpinning the conservation credit scheme were developed over many months prior to December 2007 in full consultation with all the above stakeholders.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many protection orders have been granted under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 and which waters they cover.

Richard Lochhead: There has been one protection order made under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003, namely, by the Assynt-Coigach Area Protection Variation Order 2006 (SI 2006/488). This applies to the catchment area of all rivers entering the sea on the west coast of Scotland between, in the north, a point south of the Unapool Burn and, in the south, a point south of the River Runnie, and all rivers which enter the sea on the east coast of Scotland between, in the north, a point north of River Oykel and, in the south, a point south of the River Oykel, as described in The Assynt – Coigach Area Protection Order 2004 (SSI 2004/260) varied by the Assynt-Coigach Area Protection Variation Order 2006 (SI 2006/488).

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering granting any further protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish ministers may only make a protection order upon application to them, and each application must be considered on its merits. Currently, no applications are under consideration.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to extend public access to areas currently covered by protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Richard Lochhead: When an area is granted a protection order it is on condition that wider public access is made available on terms and conditions that the Scottish ministers consider to be necessary. This access requires to be maintained unless a different agreement is reached on conservation grounds.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to revoke any protection orders under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003.

Richard Lochhead: There are currently no plans to revoke any protection order. However, the operation of protection orders is under constant review, and any protection order may be revoked or varied where appropriate.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on creating a national freshwater fisheries policy.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has undertaken a consultation on a draft framework for freshwater fisheries developed in association with stakeholders. It proposes a national policy that seeks to protect biodiversity and our environment as well as enhancing the economic benefit for our rural economy that results from angling. The consultation period closed on 4 January 2008 and the responses are being analysed. Thereafter the Freshwater Fisheries Steering Group whose members represent the main interests within the sector will prepare a final version that government can consider.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has in relation to growth in employment in the highlands and islands as a direct consequence of freshwater fishing.

Richard Lochhead: We share the vision that is contained within the draft Strategic Framework for Scottish Freshwater Fisheries that Scotland will have sustainably managed freshwater fish and fisheries that provide significant economic and social benefits for its people.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it intends to make available to develop freshwater fishing.

Richard Lochhead: Over the next three years we have committed to make available £1.2 million towards management and development of freshwater fisheries.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has to increase participation in angling among young people in the highlands and islands.

Richard Lochhead: We recognise the issue of declining youth participation within angling and we are working with the sector to inform young people about fish and to introduce them to angling.

Flood Prevention

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what residential properties and commercial premises are at risk of (a) river and (b) coastal flooding, broken down by local authority area.

Michael Russell: The information requested is set out in the following tables.

  Table 1, Properties Inside 1/200 Fluvial Flood Zone, by Local Authority

  

Local Authority
Area(KM2)
Properties
Prop/Area
Fluvial Flooding (Properties Affected)


CommercialDwelling
Properties
Properties
(%)


Aberdeen City
186
114,265
615
176
865
1,041
0.9


Aberdeenshire
6,318
108,927
17
135
1,982
2,117
1.9


Angus
2,185
54,807
25
86
935
1,021
1.9


Argyll and Bute
7,008
48,754
7
49
553
602
1.2


Clackmannanshire
159
23,315
147
46
1,082
1,128
4.8


Dumfries and Galloway
6,437
73,683
11
119
1,522
1,641
2.2


Dundee City
60
75,528
1,264
24
290
314
0.4


East Ayrshire
1,270
56,373
44
310
3,107
3,417
6.1


East Dunbartonshire
175
45,343
260
271
1,608
1,879
4.1


East Lothian
679
43,806
64
120
767
887
2.0


East Renfrewshire
174
37,852
218
44
807
851
2.2


Edinburgh City
263
240,849
915
386
6,278
6,664
2.8


Eilean Siar
3,098
14,134
5
2
72
74
0.5


Falkirk
297
71,255
240
108
4,181
4,289
6.0


Fife
1,325
172,183
130
142
2,250
2,392
1.4


Glasgow City
175
309,626
1,773
241
11,508
11,749
3.8


Highland
26,162
112,167
4
255
2,021
2,276
2.0


Inverclyde
162
40,985
253
68
552
620
1.5


Midlothian
355
35,669
100
19
332
351
1.0


Moray
2,238
43,036
19
268
3,239
3,507
8.1


North Ayrshire
885
67,320
76
267
3,264
3,531
5.2


North Lanarkshire
472
149,424
316
38
1,152
1,190
0.8


Orkney Islands
1,012
10,339
10
2
14
16
0.2


Perth and Kinross
5,384
69,917
13
321
3,671
3,992
5.7


Renfrewshire
262
85,344
326
313
4,680
4,993
5.9


Scottish Borders
4,739
57,003
12
577
4,128
4,705
8.3


Shetland Islands
1,467
10,674
7
8
7
15
0.1


South Ayrshire
1,224
55,497
45
40
764
804
1.4


South Lanarkshire
1,774
143,923
81
68
1,085
1,153
0.8


Stirling
2,253
40,623
18
87
2,909
2,996
7.4


West Dunbartonshire
177
45,541
257
216
2,110
2,326
5.1


West Lothian
429
74,906
175
15
757
772
1.0


Scotland
78,805
2,533,068
32
4,821
68,492
73,313
2.9



  Table 2, Properties Inside 1/200 Coastal Flood Zone, by Local Authority

  

Local Authority
Area(KM2)
Properties
Prop/Area
Fluvial Flooding (Properties Affected)


CommercialDwelling
Properties
Properties
(%)


Aberdeen City
186
114,265
615
30
44
74
0.1


Aberdeenshire
6,318
108,927
17
67
379
446
0.4


Angus
2,185
54,807
25
51
857
908
1.7


Argyll and Bute
7,008
48,754
7
241
1202
1,443
3.0


Clackmannanshire
159
23,315
147
2
19
21
0.1


Dumfries and Galloway
6,437
73,683
11
36
362
398
0.5


Dundee City
60
75,528
1,264
134
1013
1,147
1.5


East Ayrshire
1,270
56,373
44
0
0
0
0.0


East Dunbartonshire
175
45,343
260
0
0
0
0.0


East Lothian
679
43,806
64
78
2360
2,438
5.6


East Renfrewshire
174
37,852
218
0
0
0
0.0


Edinburgh City
263
240,849
915
190
1681
1,871
0.8


Eilean Siar
3,098
14,134
5
53
389
442
3.1


Falkirk
297
71,255
240
169
6046
6,215
8.7


Fife
1,325
172,183
130
123
1408
1,531
0.9


Glasgow City
175
309,626
1,773
18
1434
1,452
0.5


Highland
26,162
112,167
4
276
1024
1,300
1.2


Inverclyde
162
40,985
253
52
488
540
1.3


Midlothian
355
35,669
100
0
0
0
0.0


Moray
2,238
43,036
19
9
108
117
0.3


North Ayrshire
885
67,320
76
49
683
732
1.1


North Lanarkshire
472
149,424
316
3
2
5
0.0


Orkney Islands
1,012
10,339
10
52
274
326
3.2


Perth and Kinross
5,384
69,917
13
3
69
72
0.1


Renfrewshire
262
85,344
326
104
1276
1,380
1.6


Scottish Borders
4,739
57,003
12
23
47
70
0.1


Shetland Islands
1,467
10,674
7
60
66
126
1.2


South Ayrshire
1,224
55,497
45
204
1275
1,479
2.7


South Lanarkshire
1,774
143,923
81
20
77
97
0.1


Stirling
2,253
40,623
18
3
248
251
0.6


West Dunbartonshire
177
45,541
257
179
1121
1,300
2.9


West Lothian
429
74,906
175
0
0
0
0.0


Scotland
78,805
2,533,068
32
2,229
23,952
26,181
1.0



  Despite the accuracy of the figures in this report, they should be used as indicative, and not definitive, as they are based on an Indicative Flood Map. The limitations of this map are:

  Discontinuity of the fluvial outline, due to tributaries not joining up;

  Misalignment between datasets, due to projection errors;

  DTM errors, due to complex automated land cover removal, and

  Methodology limitation.

  The number of potentially affected properties is based on the estimated number of postal entries at the time of release of the OS Address Layer 2 dataset (April 2006) and is likely to have a high degree of variability.

  The coastline of Scotland used in this analysis is the Ordnance Survey Boundary Line 2005 high-water mark coastline. Although it is unlikely that there are any properties located outside this coastline, the land surface between the low-water mark and the high-water mark can be considerable in places. The coastal flood zone produced by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency does include this lands surface as well as some sea area. In the calculations, these areas were not included as coastal flood zone, or as land surface.

  Other points of concern are:

  Exclusion of non-postal entries in the OS Address Layer 2 dataset.

  Indicative map at scale 1/50k, not suitable to use for individual properties.

  Interaction between fluvial and coastal is not included.

Flood Prevention

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated to Falkirk Council in 2007-08 for flood prevention programmes.

Michael Russell: Flood prevention grant of £648,279 was allocated in 2007-08 for the Bo’ness Foreshore Flood Prevention Scheme 2006.

Flood Prevention

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to Falkirk Council for 2008-09 for flood prevention programmes.

Michael Russell: As agreed in the joint concordat, the support for flood prevention and coast protection is one of the grants which has been rolled up as part of the Local Government Settlement for 2008-11. Allocations to authorities took account of both the flood risk to be managed in its area and flood management measures already underway.

  Falkirk Council’s total support for capital is £18.384 million for 2008-09. It is the responsibility of Falkirk Council to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

Flood Prevention

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £45 million previously allocated by the Scottish Government for flood alleviation and now part of the local government settlement will be allocated to South Lanarkshire Council in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Michael Russell: The local government settlement included £42.346 million in flood prevention/coast protection grant previously committed for the years 2008-11 for such schemes which were already underway.

  The settlement for South Lanarkshire Council for 2008-09 includes £30,000 being the balance of a flood prevention grant committed to the council since 2006.

Forestry

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what grants are available for replanting felled woodlands and whether it recognises concerns expressed that an appropriate grant system has not yet been put in place.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme and the Woodland Grant Scheme continue to provide support for replanting but only where the funding commitment was made prior to 31 December 2007 when the previous Scotland Rural Development Plan (SRDP) closed.

  At the present time there are no grants schemes open to new applications which provide support for the replanting of felled woodlands. When the Rural Development Contracts – Regional Priorities opens to applicants, in the spring of 2008, it will include options which will support the replanting and restructuring of woodlands. It is a matter of concern for the Scottish Government that the process of SRDP approval by the EC has taken so long and that this has, so far, prevented the introduction of any new grant scheme which can support replanting and restructuring.

Health

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support rural branch GP surgeries.

Nicola Sturgeon: The GP contract has built-in funding to reflect the additional costs of providing primary medical services in rural areas.

  Around £300 million is distributed on the basis of the Scottish Allocation Formula, which is weighted to the needs of rural practices.

  Rural practices also benefit from an income guarantee which ensured that in the move to the new contract in 2004, no practice received less funding for the provision of core essential services.

Higher Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities.

Fiona Hyslop: The taskforce will consider:

  How to optimise and shape the contribution which the Scottish university sector can make during the next 20 years to the Scottish economy, to Scottish culture and society and to the political priorities of the Scottish Government.

  What opportunities can be created and what barriers will need to be overcome to achieve that.

  What resources will be needed and how they will be provided.

Higher Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether minutes will be published of meetings of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities.

Fiona Hyslop: There are currently no plans to publish minutes of the meetings of the Taskforce. The taskforce is making communication of progress a high priority and will consider how best to achieve this as the exercise moves forward.

Higher Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities will consider university funding.

Fiona Hyslop: Yes. The taskforce will consider university funding.

Housing

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent on the (a) maintenance and (b) construction of social housing in each year since 1999.

Stewart Maxwell: The figures for local authority revenue expenditure on repairs and maintenance of housing stock are shown as follows. Information collected from local authorities on their capital expenditure does not separately identify expenditure on the construction of social housing.

  Revenue Expenditure on Repairs and Maintenance for Local Authority Housing Stock (£000): 1998-99 to 2006-07

  

 
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
17,951
18,560
19,984
20,600
20,991
23,398
24,099
25,586
33,521


Aberdeenshire
5,209
6,300
6,770
6,939
8,774
9,694
10,389
10,778
9,502


Angus
4,955
5,409
5,087
5,989
7,210
5,424
5,784
6,509
5,375


Argyll and Bute
3,423
3,435
3,910
4,068
4,133
4,078
3,962
4,538
na


Clackmannanshire
3,096
3,190
3,455
3,755
3,336
4,156
3,634
4,279
4,347


Dumfries and Galloway
1,118
7,543
8,431
8,451
9,996
na
na
na
na


Dundee
7,311
16,594
16,475
17,121
17,508
18,009
16,382
17,622
16,966


East Ayrshire
18,879
8,831
9,849
9,885
10,181
9,857
10,984
14,066
13,991


East Dunbartonshire
11,222
3,397
3,697
3,761
3,940
3,869
3,361
3,327
3,447


East Lothian
3,676
5,561
6,064
6,612
7,022
7,747
7,337
6,036
6,405


East Renfrewshire
5,193
3,171
3,472
3,650
3,673
3,719
3,466
3,145
3,328


Edinburgh
2,825
22,271
21,632
20,608
20,953
23,140
23,956
19,912
20,113


Eilean Siar
23,243
1,164
1,165
1,211
1,365
1,273
1,283
1,501
na


Falkirk
16,986
18,321
18,605
20,655
21,043
22,249
20,948
21,673
20,615


Fife
26,968
26,077
27,009
26,873
27,945
29,788
29,869
30,334
30,030


Glasgow
70,794
70,761
75,478
93,744
99,417
na
na
na
na


Highland
9,159
10,164
12,100
12,426
11,689
11,633
12,237
12,297
13,697


Inverclyde
10,337
10,453
9,715
10,146
10,002
9,987
8,488
9,564
7,784


Midlothian
4,431
4,400
4,529
4,639
5,217
5,316
5,808
6,251
5,726


Moray
5,449
6,417
5,719
6,021
4,378
5,689
4,845
5,058
3,848


North Ayrshire
13,829
14,577
14,099
14,865
14,902
15,341
15,237
16,735
15,221


North Lanarkshire
37,127
38,298
39,615
40,817
41,649
41,991
42,419
42,666
45,053


Orkney
555
550
541
591
584
575
444
435
431


Perth and Kinross
6,432
7,725
8,275
8,970
6,494
6,541
6,377
7,680
7,313


Renfrewshire
16,202
16,858
16,088
17,155
15,791
17,859
16,485
15,113
15,706


Scottish Borders
3,660
4,333
4,028
3,942
4,059
na
na
na
na


Shetland
1,827
1,905
2,113
2,138
2,174
2,035
2,053
2,481
2,402


South Ayrshire
7,249
8,633
8,336
8,425
9,856
10,043
10,023
9,381
9,502


South Lanarkshire
20,723
26,453
28,596
30,982
30,490
32,159
30,647
29,331
25,382


Stirling
4,442
5,016
5,879
6,049
5,844
6,141
6,559
6,529
5,105


West Dunbartonshire
9,704
8,540
7,856
8,042
8,088
8,069
8,391
8,575
9,995


West Lothian
10,129
10,550
10,479
10,855
10,646
9,362
9,534
11,069
12,722


Scotland
384,104
395,457
409,051
439,985
449,350
349,142
345,002
352,473
347,527



  Source: Housing Revenue Account returns from local authorities to the Scottish Government Communities Analytical Services (Housing Statistics).

  Notes:

  1. Figures are not shown where a local authority has transferred its housing stock to a registered social landlord.

  2. Figures represent £1,000 and are near-actual.

  3. The figures show expenditure by councils on repairs and maintenance funded from revenue. In particular they exclude capital expenditure on improvements to properties.

Housing

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority houses have been built by each local authority in each year since 1999.

Stewart Maxwell: The information requested is published on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuildLA .

Justice

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out any further consultation in respect of the sentencing guidelines on causing death by driving offences in the Sentencing Guidelines Council and Sentencing Advisory Panel reports.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the sentencing guidelines on causing death by driving offences are to be implemented in Scotland and, if so, who will make that decision; what further training will be given to prosecutors and sheriffs, and when the new guidelines will be implemented.

Kenny MacAskill: The Sentencing Guidelines Council’s proposed guideline does not apply to Scotland. Scottish judges will continue to be able to impose whatever sentence they consider appropriate.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who were convicted of a sexual offence in Grampian were sentenced to (a) a prison sentence of six months or more, (b) a prison sentence of less than six months, (c) another custodial sentence or (d) community service in each year from 2003 to 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Grampian Police Force Area for Sexual Offences1,2, by Selected Sentences, 2003-04 to 2005-06

  

Year
Prison
 
 


Less than 6 Months
6 Months or More
Other Custodial
Community Sentence


2003-04
8
8
-
17


2004-05
-
13
1
19


2005-06
7
16
1
34



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes offences of rape and attempted rape, indecent assault, lewd and libidinous behaviour and other crimes of indecency (including prostitution offences).

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are serving sentences of 12 months or less in the open estate and how many were serving similar sentences five years ago.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  As of 17 January 2008 there are no prisoners in the Open Estate serving 12 months or less.

  As of 17 January 2005 there was one prisoner in Castle Huntly and one prisoner in Noranside serving sentences of 12 months or under.

Licensing

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences were granted by Aberdeen City Licensing Board to pubs and clubs in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006 and (e) 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: The information is not available in the format requested, however, the number of applications for an On Sales licence received by Aberdeen City Licensing Board during 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 is given in the following table.

  

Year
Granted
Refused
Withdrawn
Total


2003
29
0
3
32


2004
23
0
3
26


2005
31
0
2
33


2006
29
0
10
39



  On Sales licence covers hotels, restricted hotels (where a bar counter is not permitted), public houses, restaurants, entertainment venues and cafes. Night clubs are licensed as entertainment venues.

Licensing

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences issued to pubs and clubs were revoked by Aberdeen City Licensing Board in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006 and (e) 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: Licensing boards have no powers to revoke a licence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976, they do, however, have powers to suspend a licence. The following table gives the number of suspensions of public house and entertainment licences by Aberdeen City Licensing Boards during 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

  

Licence
2003
2004
2005
2006


Public House
0
0
0
0


Entertainment
1
0
0
0



  No exact figure can be given for nightclubs as they are usually licensed through entertainment licences and this category also includes other premises where the sale of alcohol is ancillary to their main activity. Registered clubs restricted to members and their guests are presently licensed through the sheriff court.

Maternity Services

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it considers that community midwife units are the best place for expectant mothers to give birth.

Shona Robison: Those well women with a normal pregnancy, and where a normal labour and birth is anticipated are suitable to give birth in a Community Maternity Unit.

  The Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland (2001) sets out a tiered level approach to maternity care and the criteria for admission to CMU’s were laid out in the report of the Expert Group on Acute Maternity Services in 2002. The EGAMS report gives a detailed description of the need to assess the risks for each individual woman based on evidence available. NHS boards are expected to have local strategies in place to assess risk.

  The Scottish Government is committed to providing a quality maternity service to all women in Scotland responsive to the needs of the mother, ensuring that women and their babies receive the right care, in the right setting, by the right professional.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all mental health patients who are assessed as requiring a community-based care package are guaranteed to receive this service under local authority single outcome agreements.

Shona Robison: Local authorities have a duty to assess the needs of an individual where it appears to them that the individual may be in need of community care services. In the light of that assessment, the local authority should then provide or arrange for any required services, taking account of the individual’s wishes.

  If the service is provided to a disabled person under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1971, the local authority has a specific duty to provide that service to the individual. The introduction of single outcome agreements between the Scottish Government and local authorities will not affect an individual’s legal entitlement to community care services.

Ministerial Code

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what complaints there have been under the Scottish Ministerial Code since May 2007; what actions have been taken as a result, and what the outcomes have been.

Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Ministerial Code details the arrangements for the conduct of affairs by ministers and provides guidance by listing the principles and the precedents which may apply. The code is not a rule book, nor does it include or imply a complaints process. However, where a member, or any other party, writes to the First Minister to draw his attention to matters relating to the code, they will receive a formal reply from him or his office. The First Minister has received five letters since May 2007 which make reference to the code and are expressed in terms that make clear the correspondent wishes to draw his attention to matters of ministerial conduct. All have been received from members of the Scottish Parliament. After proper consideration of each case the First Minister has confirmed that he considers ministers had acted appropriately.

Ministerial Correspondence

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change will respond to my letter dated 6 November 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: A response to the letter was issued on Friday 18 January 2008.

NHS Finance

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consider whether it would ever be realistically possible for NHS Western Isles to repay its cumulative deficits of £3.6 million.

Nicola Sturgeon: I am encouraged by the progress that has been made in recent times and there is a growing confidence that the NHS Western Isles Health Board will achieve in-year financial balance for 2007-08.

  Once this key priority of in-year balance is delivered and sustained the issue of the cumulative deficit will be brought into focus. In principle it is important that debts are cleared in the places they arise.

  The general approach in these rare situations is to provide brokerage and ensure repayment over time. However, this will be fully considered in due course.

Police

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to implement its strategy to augment police numbers by the deferred retirement of existing police officers.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government’s priority is to recruit, retain and redeploy police officers to build police capacity and strengthen operational policing in our communities. Thus delivering an additional 1,000 officers into our communities.

  Retaining valuable officers is important to the government and communities. The 30 + scheme is not working as well as we would wish.

  We are therefore looking to develop more opportunities which will enable chief constables to retain the skills of some of the 2,300 experienced officers who will be eligible to retire over the lifetime of this Parliament and who wish to continue serving their communities.

Police

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will re-examine and report on the proposal for more funding for police recruitment, as specified in the Finance Committee’s report on the budget, and at which areas of the budget it will look at to finance it.

Kenny MacAskill: In November we published a draft budget that will make Scotland a more successful, wealthier and fairer country.

  We are committed to working with Parliament to deliver the budget, and that is exactly what the Scottish Government has done over recent weeks and will continue to do.

  The Finance Committee’s report is an important part of that process. As John Swinney said in yesterday’s debate, we will now consider the report and respond to the points it raises as the Budget Bill moves through Parliament over the next month.

  Of course any suggested increases in funding would have to be matched by changes elsewhere.

Police

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact an increased number of police officers on the beat will have on crime reduction.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing frontline policing to deter criminals and reassure communities. That is why we will deliver an additional 1,000 police officers in our communities through increased recruitment, improved retention and redeployment.

Police

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints were received by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice relating to the stop and search policy of the British Transport Police from 16 May to 18 December 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: Any complaint about the British Transport Police operations and their policy in relation to stop and searches under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 would be a matter for them or the Department of Transport.

  I raised my concerns about the number of searches being conducted by British Transport Police with such a disproportionate impact on one section of our community following concerns that had been received from my constituents and others.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers it will pledge to Grampian over the next three years.

Kenny MacAskill: The recruitment of police officers is the responsibility of the chief constable.

  As a first step to delivering its commitment to make 1,000 additional officers available in Scotland’s communities, the government has pledged to fund the direct recruitment of 500 additional officers of which 150 will be recruited this year.

  Funding for these additional recruits will be provided to forces according to the distribution formula in place at the time, including any provision for levelling up.

  Grampian Police will benefit from the recruitment of 14 additional officers in 2007-08 and at least the same number in 2008-09. Further additional recruits will be funded in subsequent years of this Parliament.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers it expects to redeploy to Grampian over the next three years.

Kenny MacAskill: The deployment and redeployment of police officers is a matter for which the chief constable is responsible.

  We will work with chief constables and other partners to support the introduction of initiatives designed to reduce bureaucracy and strip out red tape and the reinvestment of these efficiency gains to enable chief constables to redeploy officers to strengthen operational policing in our communities.

Police

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are serving sentences of 12 months or less in (a) HM Prison Castle Huntly and (b) HM Prison Noranside and what the figures were five years ago.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  As of 17 January 2008 there are no prisoners in either (a) Castle Huntly or (b) Noranside serving 12 months or less.

  As of 17 January 2005 there was 1 prisoner in Castle Huntly and one prisoner in Noranside serving sentences of 12 months or under.

Public Private Partnerships

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools that are no longer available for community use following refurbishment or rebuilding using PPP funding.

Maureen Watt: The management of school buildings is the responsibility of the local authorities, shared, where appropriate, with other partners. The Scottish Government continues to encourage authorities to assess the need and demand for community access to school facilities and to respond to that, although it does not collect detailed information of the kind requested.

Public Sector

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the use of telephone numbers with the prefix 0845 by public agencies.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is guided in its use of 0845 numbers by best practice as recommended by OFCOM. The Scottish Government does use some 0845 numbers, but their continued use will be reviewed when OFCOM have completed their on-going review of Number Translation Services.

Radioactive Waste

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change how low and intermediate-level waste from the civil nuclear industry is dealt with.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has no plans to change how low-level radioactive waste from the civil nuclear industry is managed. We continue to support the UK-wide policy for the Long Term Management of Solid Low Level Radioactive Waste published in March 2007.

  The Scottish Government’s policy for higher activity waste in Scotland was announced on 25 June 2007 and supports long-term "near surface near site" storage facilities. We are developing this policy in conjunction with the regulators, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and others and have no plans to change it.

Residential Care

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulatory regimes exist for the scrutiny of financial management of care homes for elderly people.

Shona Robison: Under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (the act) and its associated regulations, a care home service is required, as part of its application for registration, to provide the Care Commission with a business plan and cash flow statement, and where available, its annual accounts for any part of the three year period preceding the date of application during which the care service was in operation.

  In addition, as part of the on-going regulatory framework, care homes are required to provide the Care Commission with such information and documents as it may require in order to consider the financial viability of the care home.

  These documents include the certified annual accounts of the care home, a bank reference expressing an opinion as to the provider’s financial standing and information as to the financing and financial resources of the care service.

  The Care Commission regulate care homes against the act and its associated regulations, taking account of any relevant National Care Standards. It has a wide range of sanctions available to it ranging from placing conditions on a care service’s registration to cancellation of a registration should providers fail to make any required improvements.

Residential Care

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many care homes for elderly people have been reported to regulatory bodies for financial mismanagement since 1999.

Shona Robison: The Care Commission has a statutory duty under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 to investigate any complaints against care service providers.

  Information relating to complaints investigations, including the number of complaints that have been made about the financial mismanagement of care homes for elderly people is an operational matter for the Care Commission. You can contact the commission at:

  The Care Commission

  Compass House

  11 Riverside Drive

  Dundee DD1 4NY

  0845 603 0890.

Residential Care

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it is seeking in the scrutiny of the financial management of companies owning and operating care homes for elderly people.

Shona Robison: The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 and its associated regulations provide a robust regulatory framework within which care homes must operate. This includes requirements in respect of the financial position of care services.

  We have no current plans to review the framework.

Rural Development

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been budgeted for the next three years for new woodland planting to benefit wildlife through the Scottish Rural Development Plan.

Michael Russell: The 2007-13 Scotland Rural Development Programme includes an allocation of £170 million for woodland creation. This equates to an annual allocation for woodland creation in the region of £24 million. All of this funding will be delivered through measures under Axis 2 of the programme. These are focussed on environmental enhancements which, across a wide range of situations, will deliver direct benefits for Scotland’s wildlife and natural habitats.

Rural Development

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to concerns that grant applications to regional project assessment committees will be unnecessarily bureaucratic and how it will reduce red tape in this process.

Michael Russell: The use of Regional Project Assessment Committees is not a new process, having been successfully used to administer the Farm Business Diversification Scheme previously operated by the Scottish Executive. Other significant changes being implemented to deliver the new elements of the Scottish Rural Development Fund will also offer opportunities for further streamlining of administration both for applicants and government officials.

  In particular, bringing together in excess of ten funding streams into one integrated application process under the Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities, will cut down much duplication for applicants, both in terms of the application and claims processes and reduce inspection visits.

  Rural Priorities will also allow applicants to seek information and guidance, and submit applications to any office of the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate, Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage. The three bodies will be jointly responsible for operating Rural Priorities, and applicants will receive the same service from whichever office they choose to visit. This "one stop shop" approach will offer applicants greater flexibility and efficiency savings when accessing funding from the Scottish Government to support their rural development proposals.

Rural Development

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why applications for grants to regional project assessment committees have to be made online; how it expects potential applicants who do not have access to the internet to make such applications, and how it will respond to the concerns of those applicants.

Michael Russell: It is important to recognise that it is only applications for the new competitive Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities (RDC RPs) which will be on-line. Hard copy application processes are being used for all the other funding streams (seven) in the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).

  2. The online application approach has been chosen on the understanding that the vast majority of applicants to the predecessor schemes replaced by RDC RPs, chose to use an agent to complete their applications. We expect a similar proportion to do so for RDC RPs, and in addition, will provide funding towards the cost of completing a proposal.

  3. There are a number of clear benefits, both from an applicant and an administrative perspective, for the adoption of an on-line application process for this element of the SRDP:

  RDC RPs offers over 120 options, each with differing information required from applicants. This would be unmanageable on paper; web forms ensure applicants only see the questions they have to answer for their selected circumstances;

  Similarly, the guidance will be extensive and putting it on the web, makes it easier to navigate and ensures any updates are immediately available;

  Web forms greatly reduce errors, effort and delay in the application process (e.g. they ensure all mandatory information is completed; they offer only valid choices of answer; they can be pre-populated with data already recorded);

  Developing and operating an on-line system uses public funds much more efficiently than a manual, paper-based service, and

  RDC RPs is a competitive opportunity and it is reasonable to expect those who wish to bid for funds to use effective and efficient business tools to do so.

  4. Whilst we recognise that on-line submission may provide challenges for a limited number of those wishing to apply for funding under RDC RPs, the SRDP Implementation Team is taking action to assess the scope and nature of any barriers to access and to provide appropriate assistance to overcome these:

  Broadband coverage now extends to 99% of the Scottish population. Scottish Government’s ‘Broadband for Scotland’ initiative is proactively helping to fill the remaining gaps;

  Many libraries, community centres, schools and other public facilities provide internet access, and assistance to novice users;

  Staff are engaged with local enterprise companies and other rural agencies regarding the provision of services for small rural businesses and land managers, including guidance on access;

  Crofters Commission have been allocated £100,000 to assist community groups within the Crofting Counties to apply for funding under the SRDP;

  We are in discussion with Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations to fund a similar service outwith the Crofting Counties.

  5. Our regional staff also intend to engage with local authorities and other regional stakeholders to identify further ways to direct applicants to existing facilities and support services.

Scottish Government Legislation

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a consultation paper on the draft Climate Change Bill.

Stewart Stevenson: A consultation paper on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill will be published before the end of January 2008.

Scottish Government Legislation

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the introduction of the Climate Change Bill to the Parliament.

Stewart Stevenson: It is our intention that the Scottish Climate Change Bill be introduced to the Scottish Parliament before the end of 2008.

Scottish Law Commission

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the Scottish Law Commission’s report on its review of aspects of the law on time bar relating to personal injury claims and, if so, when both the report and the Executive’s response to any of the commission’s recommendations will be made public.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Executive has received the Scottish Law Commission’s (SLC) report on Personal Injury Actions: Limitation and Prescribed Claims . The report was published on 5 December 2007 and can be viewed on the SLC’s website at:

  http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/downloads/rep207.pdf.

  The Scottish Executive is currently considering the recommendations in the report.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the recommendation of Heriot-Watt University’s review of Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) role in the planning process that states that SNH should limit its official objections to UK or European law breaches or in respect of the most substantial development proposals.

Michael Russell: The Heriot Watt University review of Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) role in planning casework is still being finalised by the consultants. Once the report has been finalised it will be for Scottish Natural Heritage, in the first instance, to consider the recommendations and any action they intend to take. I look forward to discussing with SNH now they do so.

Scottish Outdoor Access Code

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to any concerns expressed by the owners of rural businesses, especially livestock farmers, that their interests are not adequately protected in land reform legislation in respect of the right to roam and in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Michael Russell: The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 establishes the right of responsible access by members of the public. Representatives of rural businesses and land managers, including livestock farmers, were involved in the development of the legislation and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code . They continue to be fully involved in the implementation of access rights through the National Access Forum which is able to consider any relevant issues highlighted by land managers, recreational users or others. The National Farmers Union has distributed a Public Access to Farmland brochure to provide a brief introduction for farmers, crofters and growers on their rights and responsibilities.

Sportscotland

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the area hub of sportscotland in Aberdeen will be fully operational.

Stewart Maxwell: It is proposed to have all four hubs operational by April 2009. However, it is my intention to ensure that the de-centralised structure is in place as quickly as possible.

Sportscotland

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding the area hub of sportscotland in Aberdeen and the Grampian Institute of Sport will receive over the four years up to the 2012 London Olympics.

Stewart Maxwell: Funding for the Aberdeen Hub and the Grampian Institute of Sport will be a matter for the new management team and board of sportscotland to determine once the structures and staffing are in place.

Transport

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change will next meet Nestrans to discuss the Aberdeen Crossrail project.

Stewart Stevenson: I have no plans to meet NESTRANS. However, Transport Scotland officials have been involved in discussions with NESTRANS on the emerging conclusions from the STAG 2 report.

Transport

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will move from assessing proposals for Aberdeen Crossrail to construction of the project and what timescale it anticipates for the construction.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a consultation on the proposed Aberdeen Crossrail project and, if so, when it anticipates that such a consultation will take place.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change expects to receive the STAG 2 report on the Aberdeen Crossrail project which was due at the end of summer 2007.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change has yet received the STAG 2 report on the Aberdeen Crossrail project which was due at the end of summer 2007 and, if not, what the reasons are for the delay.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland officials have been involved in discussions with NESTRANS on the emerging conclusions from the STAG 2 report on the Aberdeen Crossrail project which has been received in draft format only. As a result of this dialogue, it was jointly agreed that NESTRANS should give further examination to the passenger benefits which could be achieved from the existing infrastructure. Alternative proposals have been identified and submitted to Transport Scotland. These are currently being assessed to identify which meet our strategic priorities and best meet the needs of rail users in the Aberdeen area whilst at the same time offering best value.